The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-03-09
GERTY'S TRAMP.
by NATHAN ID. URNER.

l.
hardly think that Gertys Tramp, as we
called him, would have been tolerated
around our place for a week, save for the
all-powerful protection which she persisted
in according him.
But, as it was, we gradually grew accus-
toned to him, and when he suddenly deyel-
oped professional skill as tinsmith-as bo
did one day by the merest accident-in seal
ing up tomato cans, preserve jars, and the
like, besides tinkering the kitchen ware, he
became of real use TO us, and at last recog-
nized as fixture at The Naples, as my
snug villa on the Hudson was called.
His name was Ichabod Flotsam, as he
told Gerty soon after being taken under her
wing. After thatwe mostly called him Ike,
except the little girl herself, who always
addressed him or spoke of him as Ichabod
with much seriousness of manner.
Gerty, l would say, in passing, is our
only child; a precocious, old-womanish,
wise little maid of twelve summers, but
with the ways and manners of many an eX-
perienced housewife of thrice her years, and
whose slightest wish is mostly law with
both her mother and myself.
On the summer evening when Ichabod
Flotsam first shambled up TO our gate,
begging for food and employment in a
thin, PARKWAY voice, he was the most I'M
attractive specimen of the genus tramp, of
the listless, knock kneed, bow backed,
furtive- eyed variety, it had ever been our
misfortune to meet. We gave him plenty
to eat and place in the barn to sleep.
Thereafter, as he grew fixed upon us, L
had a cot rugged up for him in a disused
tool room over the coach house, and in a
short time his lugubrious personality be-
came almost as familiar and twice as
hAp,alx no tho clothes yViraG
"Ichabod has been very saving of his
Assets, and not without a purpose" said
she, gravely. He is about to send to Pitts
burgh for carpet-bag containing valuable
papers. The Demon of Debt compelled
his leaving it there last spring. He has
also written and mailed an Epistle, whose
address he concealed from even Me"
The carpet-bag arrived by express in due
course of time. Thereafter, for week or
more, according to Gerty, Ichabods leisure
hours were employed in reading and re-
reading the letters which it contained.
The documents must be of Vast and
Mysterious import, said Gerty one day.
"Ichabod has twice admitted me to his
Apartment while he reads them. They are
all in one handwriting, which | judge must
be a Females. l think Crisis must be
at Hand"
On the following afternoon letter came
for Ichabod, in my care. 1t was III fash
ionable envelope, and the address was In
woman's hand.
That evening he asked leave to go on the
following morning to c., to remain
perhaps till Thursday. / readily granted
1t, at the same time paying him few dol
lars owing to him, and expressed the hope
that his letter had brought him good news.
81 amt sure yet if it's good or bad, sir, !"
oa;I ha. ~b,1t IFS pnaHp annn1ntmapf
with "a certain party I'm very DESTROYS of
meeting"
He left for G. on foot at an early
hour in the morning, and l myself quilted
home shortly after, intending to pass the
day with a friend at H, the river land
ing, which was about as far to the north of
us as was G., the railroad town to the
west-a trihe over six miles.
In the middle of the day, during my alb
.sence. my wife and daughter were visited
by comedy, bright eyed, business-like
lady, who had driven from H in a
hired coach, and who rather astonished
them by saving:
al am Selma Graves, near relative of
the young man, Ichabod Flotsam, whom
you have been kindly employing for some
time past l had an appointment to meet
him at the steamboat landing this morning,
but he was not there. / drove right here,
thinking he might be sick"
"There must be some mistake about the
place of meeting" said my wife. "Ichabod
set out this morning for the railroad sta
ton at C, to meet some one from whom
he received a letter yesterday"
"Dear me, how unfortunate!" said Miss
Graves; though maybe il was my fault
writing one thing and meaning another. L
could almost vow that / appointed to meet
= a.
But | must drive after him, poor fellow!
How far is it to G., pray? and have you
some one who will direct the hackman
which road to take?"
Certainly. 1t is only about the same
distance YOU have already driven" said my
wife. But will you not take off your
things and rest little?"
The offer was politely declined, though
the visitor seemed suddenly overcome, and
applied her handkerchief to her eyes.
aIchabod has had terribly hard time Of
IT," said she, recovering; "aDd L made so
certain of seeing him at once that this dis
appointment is very trying. Pray, bear
with me little, madam"
And then, suddenly starting up, she ex-
claimed "By the way, my cou,in was to
bring with him a number of letters which
he has lately received, and, from what L
remember VI AOlSSbluihOoo, hO nus 90
like as not forgotten them. / wish / could
be certain. They are very important as
affecting us both. Indeed, without them l
hardly think can effect the delicate task
of reconcile ation him and others
that Las brought me here"
"Ichabod took nothing with him but his
Walking Stick, ma'am," interposed Gerty
~The letters make such n large Package
that he could not have put them III his
pocket without Betraying their presence.
Besides, he would have told Me, for / am
his Guardian"
Miss Graves, not being familiar with our
daughters unique style, at first stared. and
then laughed.
~Do take me to his room at once, she
cried, impulsively, "that l may carry the
letters TO him. IL he has forgotten them
My wife hesitated. But she had been
rather prepossessed by Ler visitor, and
finally directed Gerry 10 conduct Miss